Verticale du Grand Serre – France

1 October

Kilian Jornet, 2015 race. ©Mayté Cortada

Distance: 1.8 km

Vertical climb: 1,000m

Highest point: 2,140m

Race records: Kilian Jornet 30’2″ (2015); Christel Dewalle 34’58” (2017)

The Verticale du Grand Serre is one of the shortest, steepest VK’s in the world – just 1,811 metres long. Kilian Jornet set his personal best time to date here in 2015 in 30’2″.

At the summit, the view across the Alps is captivating and, after the race, many runners stay over to recover their breath and enjoy the landscape.

The race is a time trial. A €2,000 bonus is at stake here for breaking the men’s and women’s VK World Record (set at Fully).

Cholonge, France

Start time: 9.00 am

Official website